The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2014: Magical Kingdom

A Fun Filled Fundraising Event to support The Hong Kong Ballet

[Hong Kong – 7th December 2014] The Hong Kong Ballet Guild’s fundraising event, The Nutcracker Christmas Benefit 2014: Magical Kingdom, was held successfully at the Island Ballroom of Island Shangri-La Hotel on Sunday 7th December, 2014. The event provided children and their families a fun filled experience to enjoy classical ballet. Funds raised will support The Hong Kong Ballet’s education and outreach activities to open up the world of ballet to the community.

“Magical Kingdom” was the sixth annual Nutcracker Christmas Benefit. Co-Chair Mrs Leigh Tung Chou expressed her gratitude to the sponsors who made this event possible, “My sincere thanks go to Platinum Sponsors LANCÔME and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts; Gold Sponsors Perrier-Jouët and Van Cleef & Arpels; as well as all other sponsors, partners and table patrons.”

The highlight of the event was a children’s performance featuring 38 committee members’ children. Their costumes were brand new mini-versions of those from The Nutcracker. Co-Chair Mrs Anne Wang Liu thanked The Hong Kong Ballet team, “I especially want to thank Joseph Morrissey, Director of Artistic Planning & Touring; Vency Kwok, Education & Community Outreach Manager and Jin Yao, Principal Dancer for creating this magnificent mini performance. The children performers had a great time sharing the stage with Senior Ballet Master Liang Jing and Corps de Ballet member Yuh Egami; while Principal Dancers, Liu Yu-yao and Wei Wei, performed an excerpt from the Grand Pas de Deux for us.”

Co-Chair Mrs Sharie Ross Tse added, “The Hong Kong Ballet strives to nurture local talents and this was demonstrated beautifully at the Benefit as two of the Company’s Hong Kong born Apprentices, Irene Kam and Hui Ka Chun, also took part in the performance, bringing Christmas fun to the audiences with an excerpt of Chinese Dance, choreographed especially for the event by Yuh Egami and Ricky Hu.”

The Benefit featured two key fundraising activities. This year’s silent auction featured over 90 fantastic lots, including exciting experiences, fine dining and fabulous getaways; while the live auction featured three priceless lots – a private ballet lesson led by one of The Hong Kong Ballet’s dancers, a guaranteed place for a child’s participation in one of the Company’s productions, and a tailor-made children’s costume from The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty. The event also included a festive brunch, a lucky draw, and entertainment including arts & crafts workshops, an instant photo booth, balloon twisting, face painting, as well as a photo opportunity with Santa Claus!

The Hong Kong Ballet Guild was established in April 2008 by a group of Hong Kong’s most avid ballet enthusiasts. The objective of the Guild is to promote the work of The Hong Kong Ballet and elevate the Company’s public profile, as well as raising the awareness of the art of ballet within the community, especially among the younger generation and families.

About Hong Kong Ballet

One of the premier classical ballet companies in Asia, The Hong Kong Ballet is becoming internationally recognised as a world-class institution that represents Hong Kong’s unique character. Since 1979 the Company has evolved into a vibrant performing arts organisation with accomplished dancers and a strong repertoire composed of a range of stunning, technically challenging productions, led by its Artistic Director Madeleine Onne. www.hkballet.com